A taste of the Southwest: Moe's to open Friday

Moe’s Southwest Grill, the second of two eateries planned for The Fresh Market shopping center on North State of Franklin Road, is set to open Friday.

A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday with door prizes and Robert D. Raiford, a regular on the syndicated John Boy and Billy morning radio show, there to meet the guests from noon to 2 p.m.

“It’s all fresh made in front in you from over 20 fresh ingredients,” general manager Ryan Brown said. “It’s a fast in fast out, with a fun atmosphere great for families.”

“The 3,500-square-foot restaurant will include an in-store Yobe frozen yogurt shop, featuring eight rotating flavors of serve-yourself frozen yogurt cups with a variety of toppings and a menu of fresh-made smoothies.

Brown said the Moe’s and Yobe partnership is all new concept for both companies, which are separate franchises that in this case are owned by the same franchisee. “It’s never been tried before. You’ll be able to have your meal then walk over and make your own dessert without having to go outside,” he said.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurant will employ 30 to 35 workers.

The 21,700-square-foot Fresh Market opened Jan. 4. The center also includes a Walgreens pharmacy and Chick-fil-A restaurant.

Site preparation began in May after city commissioners voted to rezone the 5-acre tract from MS-1 (medical services) to PB (planned business), ending a years-long debate over the corner’s development between land owner Stewart Taylor, the city and Mountain States Health Alliance, which owns several facilities adjacent to and across the street from the shopping center.